Categories: Concept Cars

It would seem that the market is ripe for a car that shifts shapes between popular models. Over the past year, we've seen concepts that allude to the possibilities, including the Magna Steyr MILA Coupic and Hyundai Veloster C3 Roll Top, both of which used innovative two-part roof systems to transform from hatchback to pickup truck to convertible. Industrial design firm Xelestine presents a system that provides an even more radical transformation - sports coupe to station wagon to pickup truck.

For centuries, Santa has instilled joy and wonder into the hearts of the world's youth by way of a reindeer-driven sleigh. A few luxury-car and supercar manufacturers have decided that Santa needs an upgrade. The world's population is growing, after all, so a little extra speed will help Santa cover his entire list with check marks.

We've seen Santa-mobiles before, but it seems like there's some growing competition this year. Within a few days, Lamborghini, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz each released visions about what Santa should be driving in the future.

The Bentley Continental GT already has a bit of racing pedigree, including a world speed record. It's about to get much more. In September, Bentley announced that it would return to racing for the first time since 2003. The Crewe crew is preparing the Continental GT3 racer for a debut late next year.

Bentley unveiled the Continental GT3 Concept Racer at the Paris Motor Show and showed it again at the L.A. Show earlier this month. Its next stop will be the 2013 Autosport International exhibition next month, marking the race car's U.K. debut.

Honda teased a new concept this week. The Urban SUV Concept will make its debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (Detroit) next month. It is the latest example of what appears to be a growing trend.

If you think about it, the average SUV will likely see more center-city street than it will ever see dirt road or rock. That's even more accurate for smaller crossovers, which are more road- than off-road-friendly to begin with.

Mercedes didn't take home the trophy at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, but it did have arguably the most interesting entry. And unlike competitors that created only renderings, Mercedes built a life-sized model. Mercedes tackled the assignment of creating a highway patrol vehicle for the year 2025 by building a mean, green off-roader. The Ener-G-Force is essentially the G-Class of the future outfitted for all-terrain dominance.

Lexus announced this week that it will be debuting the new IS at the 2013 North American International Auto Show on Tuesday, January 15. For those that don't follow auto shows, the NAIAS is known more simply as the Detroit Auto Show.

In a brief, three-lined press release, Lexus describes the new IS: "Inspired by the acclaimed LF-CC concept and with design cues of the LFA, the new IS has been completely redesigned, inside and out."

Convertibles are among the most fun but least practical cars on the road. Often offering only two seats and limited trunk space, convertibles aren't necessarily the most comfortable, practical daily commuters. But what's more fun to drive down a scenic country road on a sunny day? In the all-new C3 Roll Top concept, Hyundai shows us that convertibles can be practical, roomy and fun to drive.

Hyundai presented the C3 Roll Top at the recent L.A. Auto Show, using the sprawling, oceanside metropolis as the inspiration for the innovative convertible.

We've been hearing tell of a mid-level Porsche supercar since around the time Stuttgart made the 918 Spyder official. The car would slide between the 911 line-up and the 918 Spyder hybrid, going after the turf occupied by cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C. A new report confirms the car is indeed in development.

Porsche chief Matthias Muller told Auto Express that Porsche is indeed working on a Ferrari 458 competitor. Muller stopped short of naming the car, but basic Porsche common sense tells us that it should be a three-digit number beginning with 9. Rumor has it, that number is 961.

We found the Nissan EXTREM concept to be a pretty intriguing piece of design. The small crossover may never be described as "sexy," but the EXTREM brought the crossover about as close to that as we've seen - definitely closer than the production Juke. In browsing through Nissan's YouTube channel, we came across a video rendering of the concept in action. Here's how Nissan imagines the EXTREM going at the "urban jungle."

We already knew the Lexus LF-LC was quite a looker, but a new coat of blue paint shows that it looks good in whatever it's wearing. Lexus debuted the LF-LC Blue concept at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show, keeping chatter alive about a concept sports car that might eventually see production.

Lexus debuted the original LF-LC - which looked mighty fine in red, too - at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, later hinting at the possibility of production. For the Australian show, Lexus covered the car in Opal Blue. Not that it needed an excuse for the luscious paint, but the color is actually linked to Australia by way of the semi-precious opal stone found in the Outback.

When you look at the clean, sharp edges and punishing demeanor of the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, the last thing you should be thinking is, "Boy, that sucker would look good in 'I Love You' purple." But the SEMA auto show is all about making a scene with loud colors and elaborate body kits, so that's how Wald International decided to go about its business.

The Wald Black Bison G55 was created in conjunction with Toyo Tires, Jonari and several other partners. What makes this "bison" stand out the most, especially if it were to ever see any actual off-road action, is its matte purple wrap.